ESPN NFL

Breakdown: Don't play that lack-of-respect card this year, Who Dey nation. After not making a prime-time appearance last season, the Bengals were rewarded with three after a surprising run to the playoffs. The last time the Bengals had more prime-time games was 2007, when they had four.

Cincinnati opens the season on Monday night at Baltimore, plays at home in a Sunday night game against Pittsburgh on Oct. 21 and has a Thursday night game at Philadelphia on Dec. 13. The most shocking part of the Bengals' schedule is that the return of Carson Palmer to Paul Brown Stadium on Nov. 25 isn't on national television.

The Bengals will find out where they stand in the AFC North early -- four division games are in the first seven weeks of the season. Cincinnati then goes nine weeks without facing an AFC North team until it finishes at Pittsburgh and home against Baltimore.

Complaint department: There really isn't much to complain about. Four of the Bengals' first six games are on the road. But that could also be considered the easy part of the schedule, with only one of those road games against a playoff team from last season. After playing at Baltimore, the Bengals travel to Washington, Jacksonville and Cleveland.

Sellout streak?: It's no secret that the Bengals have had trouble selling tickets. Only two home games last season weren't blacked out (and one was the result of a "buy one, get one free" promotion). But there's no excuse for a lack of sellouts this year. The Bengals have a three-game home stretch in the middle of the season when Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning come to town. If the Bengals can't pack the stadium for those games, there's a major problem in Cincinnati.

Bengals Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Monday, Sept. 10, at Baltimore, 7:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, at Washington, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, at Jacksonville, 4:05 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, Denver, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, NY Giants, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, at Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, Oakland, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at San Diego, 4:15 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, Dallas, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 13, at Philadelphia, 8:20 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, Baltimore, 1:00 PM

Some argue that Joe Flacco is among the most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL. Others see him as one of the top quarterbacks under 30.

Now, raise your hand if you believe Flacco is the best quarterback in the NFL. Anyone? I mean anyone not wearing a purple No. 5 jersey.

"I think I’m the best," Flacco told a Baltimore radio station when asked if he felt like he was a top-five quarterback. "I don’t think I’m the top five, I think I’m the best. I wouldn’t be very successful at my job if I didn’t feel that way."

This reminds me of the time before last season when Eli Manning said he would put himself in the same class as Tom Brady. Everyone laughed until Manning beat Brady in the Super Bowl.

Flacco faces the same situation: You said it, so let's see if you can back it up.

Like Manning, Flacco was right to say it. No matter what you or I think, Flacco should believe he's the best quarterback in the league. Just like Colt McCoy should think he's leading the Browns to the division title.

How was Flacco supposed to respond when asked that question? I guess he could have given a more toned-down answer -- that he doesn't compare himself to other quarterbacks, for example, or doesn't place labels on himself. If he'd said that he was the 15th best quarterback in the NFL, people would be ripping him for having no faith in himself.

Flacco isn't Kyle Boller. He's won more games in his first four seasons than any other quarterback in NFL history. Flacco directed a winning 92-yard touchdown drive in the final minute against the NFL's top-rated defense last year. He also outplayed Brady in the AFC Championship Game and was one stripped pass away from leading the Ravens to the Super Bowl.

The problem is, Flacco looked like he was the NFL's worst quarterback at times, too. He struggled to complete passes and record first downs in prime-time disasters last season against the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Before Flacco can say he's "the best," he has to show he's consistent. He has to prove that the team can depend on him week after week. He has to take the Ravens to a Super Bowl and win it. That's the definition of being "the best" in the NFL. Right now, Flacco isn't even the best quarterback in his division.

Last season, Flacco didn't finish in the top 10 in completion rate (26th), passing yards (12th), touchdowns (13th) or quarterback rating (18th). You don't need to call for a Discount Double Check to see the disparity between Flacco and a certain quarterback in Green Bay.

It's understandable why Flacco has this attitude. He's always having to defend himself against critics. For some reason, he's become a punching bag for NFL players during the past year. During last offseason, Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley said Flacco will never win a Super Bowl "in this lifetime." And, during last season's playoff run, Flacco's own teammate -- safety Ed Reed -- questioned the quarterback's hold on the offense.

From Flacco's point of view, he has to pump himself up because it seems like no one else will. You don't hear the same criticism or negativity directed toward Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who has similar career passing numbers as Flacco but no playoff wins.

Flacco isn't a cocky quarterback, but he is very prideful. You ask him if he's the best quarterback, and he's going to say that he is. Flacco has thought of himself as the underdog ever since he entered the NFL as a first-round pick out of FCS school Delaware. "I had to go down to the minor leagues of college football to prove who I was," Flacco said after getting drafted by the Ravens four years ago. "I'm going to carry that with me for the rest of my life and use it for the best."

So it's not a matter of whether Flacco is the best quarterback in the NFL. He's obviously not. What's important is that he believes it. The challenge now is to back it up.

There's a growing sense that the Cleveland Browns should trade up and draft Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. I'm here to tell you that the Browns must do it.

If they want an offensive playmaker. If they want a face for the franchise. If they eventually want to win a Super Bowl.

There are arguments against Cleveland giving up a handful of valuable picks for the Heisman Trophy winner. For each one, I will give you a convincing rebuttal on why RG3 is the Browns' only option at quarterback, from that golden arm to those priceless Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles socks.

RG3 is more athletic than most NFL quarterbacks and he's faster than most running backs. His wit is extremely quick as well. "I hope somebody falls in love with me, other than my fiancee," he said when asked about the Browns possibly trading up to No. 2 to get him.

Let the Miami Dolphins sign Matt Flynn. Let another team panic and draft Ryan Tannehill in the top 10. Griffin is different than both of those quarterbacks. He's special. He has that "it" factor that turned around the Baylor football program and figures prominently in any NFL reclamation project.

I know Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns in one game last season and Tannehill is a better fit for the West Coast offense. But RG3 brings charisma, excitement and plenty of crazy socks (yes, even Hello Kitty ones). He'll not only be the face of the franchise. He'll be the mouthpiece, too.

The drafting of RG3 would sell tickets. Actually, I think he would go out and sell tickets himself if you ask him. In yesterday's SportsNation poll, 42 percent of the nearly 8,000 voters think RG3 should be the Browns' starting quarterback in 2012.

The Browns have been irrelevant in the NFL for too long. That's what happens when you lose 97 games in nine seasons. RG3 brings bite back to the Dawg Pound.

"It would be fun to compete with Colt [McCoy]," Griffin said. "I played him one year in college, and he beat us. Maybe I'd have to go out there and beat him. Other than that, it would be an honor to go to Cleveland, to go anywhere. As far as the team goes, they just need that motivation, they need that inspiration. They've got the coaches in place to be successful."

Of course, moving up two spots from No. 4 to draft RG3 comes at a steep price. The St. Louis Rams, who hold the second overall pick, are seeking a deal similar to what the San Diego Chargers got for the rights to 2004 top overall pick Eli Manning, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Manning was selected by the Chargers with the No. 1 overall pick in 2004 and traded to the New York Giants for two first-round picks, a third-round pick and a fifth-round choice.

That's a teeth-gnashing amount of picks to give up for the Browns, who have the fourth and 22nd overall picks in this year's first round. They are not one quarterback away from winning a championship. Cleveland needs draft choices to rebuild an offense that ranked 29th in yards and 30th in points scored.

But the Browns need someone to build around. And, if Cleveland doesn't do this, another team like the Washington Redskins gladly will. Why? Teams don't win Super Bowls without franchise quarterbacks these days. In fact, six of the past seven Super Bowl winners started quarterbacks that they selected in the first round.

Just like the Browns, the Giants were coming off a 4-12 season when they handed over those picks for Manning in the 2004 draft. Two Lombardi Trophies later and the Giants aren't second-guessing the decision.

To be honest, there really isn't a decision for the Browns when you look at the alternatives.

Cleveland could sign Flynn, a longtime backup for the Green Bay Packers, in free agency. Instead of draft picks, it would cost the Browns a $50 million contract to someone who's made two career NFL starts. Flynn doesn't have prototypical size or elite arm strength. He's a timing passer who makes decisive reads but won't be able to deliver the throw on a 25-yard comeback route.

If the Browns wanted a quarterback like that, then they should just stick with McCoy. Of course, the Flynn scenario allows the Browns to keep the fourth overall pick and presumably use it on Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. The problem is, Blackmon isn't on the same level as A.J. Green, the wide receiver who was selected No. 4 last year, or Julio Jones, whom the Browns passed on last year. Blackmon also doesn't possess the speed that the Cleveland wide receiver group needs.

Another direction the Browns could take is trading back a few spots from the No. 4 to select Tannehill in the top 10 and acquire more picks. Tannehill is the third-best quarterback in this draft but he comes with his own share of questions. He started only 19 games at Texas A&M because he spent his first 2 1/2 seasons there as a wide receiver. Tannehill is as big of a gamble as Flynn in terms of experience.

The other option is sticking with McCoy as the starter for another season. Supporters of McCoy say you can't judge him properly because he doesn't have a supporting cast. I just get the sense that some don't want to start over again at quarterback, which is understandable. The Browns have had 16 starting quarterbacks since rejoining the NFL in 1999, which averages out to a different quarterback every 13 games.

McCoy won't lead a team to a championship, and it wouldn't matter if his top receiver was Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald. He can't throw an accurate deep ball in a league where passing downfield is essential. McCoy is a limited quarterback, whereas RG3 offers limitless potential.

The Browns will only have themselves to blame if they lose out on RG3. Cleveland can give the Rams what no one else can — the fourth overall pick. That would allow St. Louis to address a major need, whether it's drafting Blackmon or offensive tackle Matt Kalil.

Drafting RG3 will require more work in free agency. The Browns have to spend money to improve at wide receiver (perhaps Pierre Garcon) and running back (if Cleveland makes the right call and parts ways with Peyton Hillis).

Still, the addition of RG3 provides a foundation for the offense and a hope for the future.

The NFL will kick off its season on Wednesday, Sept. 5 instead of the traditional Thursday night start to avoid a conflict with a scheduled speech by President Barack Obama on Sept. 6 during the Democratic National Convention.

The league has yet to announce which team will play at the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, but don't expect an AFC North team to be the opponent.

The two AFC North teams that will play at the Giants this season are the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns. While the Steelers would receive strong consideration most years, there is a matchup that the NFL wants to see more.

My guess is that the Green Bay Packers will play the Giants. It would match the past two Super Bowl champions as well as the reigning Most Valuable Player (Aaron Rodgers) against the current Super Bowl MVP (Eli Manning).

The Giants also host the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The NFL could announce the Giants' opponent at the owners meetings in late March.

Eli Manning won the Super Bowl but he failed to win the hearts of the AFC North blog family.

In a SportsNation poll, 69 percent of voters say the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger is the best quarterback of the 2004 draft. Manning, who was selected first overall in that draft, received 23 percent in a poll that drew over 12,000 votes.

The results aren't surprising, and it would probably be reversed if this poll was taken in the NFC East. Honestly, it comes down to a matter of preference because the numbers are close.

Manning is coming off his second Super Bowl championship and captured his second Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award. He has thrown for 27,579 yards, with 185 touchdowns and 129 interceptions. Manning has directed 21 fourth-quarter comebacks and his overall record (including postseason) is 74-53 (.582).

Roethlisberger is also a two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, although he has yet to win the MVP award. He has passed for 26,579 (exactly 1,000 less than Manning), with 165 touchdowns and 100 interceptions. Roethlisberger has 20 fourth-quarter comebacks and his record is 90-36 (.714).

My vote would have gone to "Too Close To Call," which only garnered 5 percent of the vote. Philip Rivers, who was taken fourth overall in the 2004 draft, received 3 percent of the vote.

So, you have the first pick in the 2004 NFL draft. Knowing what you do now, which quarterback would you take?

Would it be Eli Manning? He went first overall that year. Would it be Ben Roethlisberger? He lasted until the 11th pick. Or would it even be Philip Rivers? He was taken fourth overall.

Manning is coming off his second Super Bowl championship and captured his second Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award. He has thrown for 27,579 yards, with 185 touchdowns and 129 interceptions. Manning has directed 21 fourth-quarter comebacks and his overall record (including postseason) is 74-53 (.582).

Roethlisberger is also a two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, although he has yet to win the MVP award. He has passed for 26,579 (exactly 1,000 less than Manning), with 165 touchdowns and 100 interceptions. Roethlisberger has 20 fourth-quarter comebacks and his record is 90-36 (.714).

For the sake of argument, Rivers was put in this discussion as well. He lacks the same Super Bowl résumé as Manning and Roethlisberger, but he has produced impressive numbers. Despite playing more than 20 fewer games than those two quarterbacks, Rivers has thrown for 24,285 yards, with 163 touchdowns and 78 interceptions. He has 13 fourth-quarter comebacks and his record is 66-37 (.640).

Go ahead and register your vote or let me know what you think in the comments section below. I'll follow up by the end of the week.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Steelers reserve tight end Weslye Saunders was suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2012 season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

His suspension begins Sept. 1, but he will be allowed to participate in offseason practices and the entire preseason. According to the Tribune-Review, Saunders is believed to have taken a stimulant prescription drug unknowingly or without receiving a medical waiver from the NFL.

An undrafted free agent, Saunders caught four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown as a rookie.

Hensley's slant: This isn't the first time Saunders has run into trouble, which should raise a red flag for the Steelers. South Carolina kicked Saunders off the team in his senior season for violating team rules and lying to the NCAA about his dealings with an agent. That's why a highly rated prospect went undrafted.

BENGALS: Hall of Fame defender Rod Woodson is waiting to see whether or not he will be a good fit on Cincinnati's coaching staff, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. He spoke with coach Marvin Lewis about the Bengals' opening at secondary coach. “Cincinnati is a good, really young team that is playing well. It would be fun,” Woodson said. “It’s a good nucleus and coaching staff. Marvin has to make a decision of how it would fit in with his coaching staff and players and [defensive coordinator] Mike Zimmer is going to have some say in that." Hensley's slant: Not sure why there is even a question if this would be a good fit. Woodson would provide a unique perspective from his playing days as a cornerback and safety.

BROWNS: The Cleveland city council has approved $5.8 million for repairs to Cleveland Browns Stadium, which will go toward refurbishing seats and repair concrete inside and outside the 12-year-old structure. But public officials are worried about if they will have enough funds when a countywide tax for maintaining the building runs out in 2015, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Hensley's slant: The maintenance of a stadium is extremely important. Just ask those who attended games at Cleveland Municipal Stadium about what happens when one gets neglected. It's not pretty.

RAVENS: Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron sees connections that can be drawn between the Ravens' Joe Flacco and the Giants' Eli Manning. “I think there are a lot of parallels when you look at where they both were after four years,” Cameron told the team's website. “They both have had a reasonable amount of success. We all know the success Joe has had, we all know Joe’s upside. I think people were saying the same thing about Eli.” Hensley's slant: It's true that Flacco's stats look similar -- and even better -- than Manning's numbers in his first NFL seasons. And Flacco showed that he can lead a team to the Super Bowl this year (if not for Lee Evans failing to hold onto the ball in the end zone). But until Flacco wins a Super Bowl, there is no comparison.

QUARTERBACK: Tom Brady fell short of his fourth game-winning touchdown drive in a Super Bowl. He overcame a ragged start to find his groove. He set a Super Bowl record with 16 straight completions, including 15 straight on two touchdown passes. His first touchdown pass, a 4-yarder to Danny Woodhead, showed his patience to wait for the running back to break free of the linebacker. Brady's second one, a 12-yarder, was quicker recognition to find tight end Aaron Hernandez against the middle linebacker. Brady did get hit on his interception (which turned out to be a long punt) and seemed to hurt his already banged-up left shoulder. He started off the scoring but not the way he intended. His intentional grounding penalty on the Patriots' first play led to a safety, a strange mistake for a quarterback known for such great awareness. Grade: B-plus.

OFFENSE: The Patriots' receivers let Brady down in the fourth quarter with drops from Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Hernandez. The passing game was limited with tight end Rob Gronkowski less than full strength with a high-ankle sprain. He didn't get a catch until three minutes left in the first half. Hernandez picked up the slack with a 12-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter. The offensive line held up quite well against a Giants pass rush that recorded five sacks of Brady in the last Super Bowl matchup. Welker was a hot target in the passing game, although he couldn't pull down a key reception late in the fourth quarter. Grade: C.

DEFENSE: The Patriots' much-maligned defense came up big in the biggest game of the season. Playing both safeties deep to defend against the deep pass, the Patriots made it tough for Eli Manning and forced him to throw into tight windows. The New England run defense got pushed around early (70 yards rushing allowed in the first half), but fared better in the second half. The Patriots played more physical after they were sparked by Patrick Chung's hit on Hakeem Nicks along the sideline. The Patriots then allowed Ahmad Bradshaw to score a 6-yard touchdown with 40 seconds left, so they could get the ball back into the hands of Brady. Grade: B-minus.

COACHING: Bill Belichick lost his second straight Super Bowl. The Patriots had a great game plan defensively and were running an efficient offense. But it was questionable to throw on second-and-11 in the fourth quarter — which resulted in an incompletion to Welker and stopped the clock with four minutes left in the game. Then, the challenge on the Mario Manningham catch on the Giants' final drive cost the Patriots a timeout. Belichick prides himself on precision and discipline, which is why having 12 men on the field for defense was so surprising. That penalty negated a recovered fumble for the New England defense and led to the Giants' first touchdown (a Victor Cruz 2-yard catch in the first quarter). Grade: B.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 29-yard field goal. The kickoff coverage team allowed a 34-yard return early in the third quarter. The Patriots' return game was virtually non-existent. Punter Zoltan Mesko was outplayed by Steve Weatherford, averaging 38 yards per punt. Grade: C.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis was asked to name the winner of the quarterback matchup in the Super Bowl, and the answer might surprise you.

"Right now, you got to go with Eli Manning," Bettis told ESPN New York radio. "He's the hotter quarterback of the two when you look at their body of work. The last game they played, Eli played a lot better than Brady did. Brady left a lot of big plays on the field. The game didn't have to as close as it was. So, when you look at it, Eli is the hotter quarterback."

Bettis added, "Is he the better quarterback in a game like this? I don't know that. That has yet to be seen. But I will say it will be a shootout. That's for sure."

Manning definitely had a better conference championship game than Brady. He threw for 316 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, while Brady had 239 yards passing with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

But to say Manning is the hotter quarterback is an overstatement. In his past six games, Brady has averaged 320.1 yards, throwing 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. In the same stretch of games, Manning had 291.8 yards passing per game with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.

In order for the Ravens to reach the Super Bowl, Joe Flacco has to take them there.

He has to strong-arm Baltimore to victory over New England in Sunday's AFC Championship Game because that's how you beat the Patriots this season. New England has lost three games, and every time, the quarterback has been the deciding factor. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning exploited the AFC's worst defense by throwing for 984 yards (an average of 328 yards passing) and a total of six touchdowns.

So it's time for Flacco to step up in the playoffs. It's time for Flacco to prove he deserves that new contract. It's time for Flacco to quash his critics, as well as a critical teammate.

A feisty Flacco entered the playoffs saying if the Ravens win the Super Bowl, "I'll have nothing to do with why we won, according to you guys."

On Sunday, let's take the chip off the shoulder and put the team on his back -- because that's exactly how this game will play out.

Tom Brady and the Patriots are averaging 32.8 points per game. That means scoring three points in the final three quarters won't cut it in this playoff game.

New England will direct its focus on stopping running back Ray Rice, especially after Bill Belichick plays that 83-yard touchdown run from two years ago about 100 times this week. That means the Patriots are going to force Flacco to beat them.

"We're going to have to make sure we prepare well all week and bring our A-game up there," Flacco said.

There's no question that Flacco is a winner. His 44 victories are the most ever by an NFL starting quarterback in his first four seasons. He's also the only quarterback in NFL history to win a playoff game in each of his first four years.

But there have been very few "A-games" when it comes to the postseason. In eight playoff games, Flacco has completed 53 percent of passes and has averaged 153.3 yards passing. He's thrown six touchdowns and seven interceptions for a quarterback rating of 31.5.

In last Sunday's 20-13 victory over Houston, Flacco completed 14 of 27 passes (51.9 percent) for 176 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. It wasn't just the media that criticized Flacco after this performance. Ravens safety Ed Reed said Flacco "was kind of rattled a little bit" Sunday.



“They had a lot of guys in the box on him and they were giving it to him. I think a couple of times he needed to get rid of the ball. It just didn’t look like he had a hold on the offense,” Reed told SiriusXM satellite radio Monday. “I don’t know how much of [that was] the play calling … but it just didn’t look like he had a hold on the offense, you know, of times past."

Reed added, "It was just kind of like they [were] telling him [what] to do -- throw the ball or get it here, you know, get it to certain guys.”

Reed believes Flacco needs to improve his play for the Ravens to win at New England.

“He can’t play like that,” Reed said.

It's never a good sign when a teammate is talking about his quarterback this way. Just ask Mark Sanchez.

The Ravens are entering a crucial time, and this goes beyond the current postseason. Baltimore is going to have to make a decision on its level of commitment to Flacco. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said last March that he expects to sign Flacco to a long-term contract extension sometime in 2012. Flacco later responded that he doesn’t think he should have to wait that long.

The problem is, Flacco's statistics say he regressed this season. He completed a career-worst 57.6 percent of his passes. His touchdowns went down, from 25 in 2010 to 20 this season. His interceptions went up, from 10 to 12.

Asked whether it's difficult to measure Flacco's impact by statistics, coach John Harbaugh said: "I've done that many times, and I don't really feel like running down all those things right now. I can just tell you in this last game, he won, and his quarterback rating was 97. That's a winning performance, and Joe -– I told him [Sunday] night -– I thought he played very, very well. In a lot of situations in this game when he was under duress, he handled himself really well. There were plenty of things he'd like to have back and could have done better, and he'd be the first to tell you that. So, you just try to get better, you try to improve and you try to play winning football, no matter what position you play. And that's what we value around here."

The path to this season's playoffs wasn't an easy one for Flacco, who finished 15th in QBR for a reason. He played 12 games against defenses ranked in the top 10, throwing 14 touchdowns and six interceptions in those games.

There's no such excuse when it comes to taking on the Patriots' defense. New England ranked 31st in yards allowed in the regular season and gave up the most passing yards in the AFC.

"A quarterback has to do what his team needs him to do to win, and Joe has done that," Belichick said. "I don’t know how to improve much on 11-5 and 12-4, and they just keep doing it. He's been a solid guy since his rookie year in terms of managing the game and using the clock and making good decisions and those types of things."

A game manager isn't going to get the Ravens past the Patriots on Sunday. Baltimore needs Flacco to play like Brady, not like Trent Dilfer.

New England gave up the most 20-yard passes in the NFL this season: 79, which was eight more than any other defense. Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty has allowed 1,115 yards and six touchdowns this season (according to Stats LLC), and cornerback Kyle Arrington has given up 827 yards and five touchdowns.

It's clear that Flacco has to attack a vulnerable Patriots secondary and help out a Ravens defense facing Brady, Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski.

The stage is yours, Joe Flacco.

There's always a heated debate whenever someone calls the Ravens' Joe Flacco an elite quarterback. But where does he rate as far as grit?

Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher put Flacco at the top, telling 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore that he is "easily the toughest quarterback in the NFL."

Flacco has certainly proved himself under pressure this season. He has thrown "under duress" on 24.6 percent of his dropbacks, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Only Chicago's Jay Cutler (26.5 percent) has had the pocket collapse more often.

In those situations, Flacco has completed 32.6 percent of his passes and has passed for 225 yards. His quarterback rating is 51, which ranks 19th in the NFL.

Flacco took some major hits in last Sunday's victory over Houston, but he bounced back off the ground each time. With 53 consecutive starts, he has the league's third-longest current streak among active quarterbacks, ranking behind Eli Manning (109) and Philip Rivers (85).

“Since my first year here, I’ve seen him take some hits and nothing fazes the guy," Oher said. "It’s unbelievable just to see him stand in the pocket time after time when he knows he’s going to get drilled on this play. He’s fearless."

Note: According to ESPN Stats & Information, "under duress" is defined as situations when defensive pressure forced players to throw early, off-balance or when they were getting hit.

ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton completed his popular NFL quarterback rankings on Wednesday.

Here is a breakdown of where AFC North quarterbacks rank:

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Clayton's ranking: No. 5

Analysis: Roethlisberger has always been hot and cold when it comes to rankings. Some analysts see his unconventional, backyard style and overlook Roethlisberger. But I agree with Clayton that Roethlisberger is an elite quarterback deserving of a top-five ranking. Roethlisberger is a great passer and a winner. Those are the two biggest ingredients I look for in the position.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Clayton's ranking: No. 11

Analysis: There are 13 elite quarterbacks listed this season and Flacco is in that group, according to Clayton. I disagree. Flacco is a good quarterback who is growing, but I do not consider him elite. The same goes for other quarterbacks like Tony Romo, Matt Ryan and Eli Manning, who also are in the "elite" category. I would probably cut the elite group by more than half and stop after the top five.

Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns

Clayton's ranking: No. 25

Analysis: McCoy is in Clayton's hit-or-miss group. I agree with this assessment. McCoy looks solid in the preseason but still has plenty to prove. His size and arm strength are not ideal, and he played poorly in bad weather last season. We will find out what McCoy is made of in 2011.

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Clayton's ranking: No. 33

Analysis: Dalton was rated the worst starting quarterback in the NFL by Clayton. He was No. 33 because Indianapolis Colts backup Kerry Collins (No. 29) might start in Week 1 in place of injured quarterback Peyton Manning (No. 3). There's nowhere to go but up for Dalton. He's been inconsistent this preseason and needs to grow with the young weapons around him.

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: history in that spot.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals' top pick is No. 4 overall. Here are the last seven players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2010: OT Trent Williams, (Redskins)

2009: LB Aaron Curry (Seahawks)

2008: RB Darren McFadden (Raiders)

2007: DE Gaines Adams (Buccaneers)

2006: OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson (Jets)

2005: RB Cedric Benson (Bears)

2004: QB Philip Rivers (Chargers)

Analysis: Draft history shows the Bengals are in a good spot at No. 4. Most players on this list have turned out to be productive pros or are getting playing time right away while trying to make a name for themselves. The last franchise quarterback taken in this spot was Rivers, who was drafted by the Giants and traded to the Chargers on draft day in 2004. That was a great pick in a strong quarterback class that included the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger and the Giants' Eli Manning. Is that caliber of quarterback available this year for the Bengals, whose starter, Carson Palmer, has threatened to retire? Prospects such as Auburn's Cam Newton and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert would be much riskier picks.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns' top pick is No. 6 overall. Here are the last seven players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2010: OT Russell Okung (Seahawks)

2009: OT Andre Smith (Bengals)

2008: LB Vernon Gholston (Jets)

2007: S LaRon Landry (Redskins)

2006: TE Vernon Davis (49ers)

2005: CB Adam Jones (Titans)

2004: TE Kellen Winslow Jr. (Browns)

Analysis: Recent history shows the No. 6 overall pick can be hit or miss. Smith, Gholston and Jones are all certified busts as big-money draft picks. It's too early to tell with Okung, while Landry, Davis and Winslow have all had multiple productive seasons in the NFL. The Browns went 5-11 for the second consecutive year after having a similar pick in 2010. In the first year under president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert, Cleveland took cornerback Joe Haden at No. 7 overall, and he turned out to be a solid selection. The Browns need to add another impact player from the top of this draft to close the gap with the Ravens and Steelers.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens' top pick is No. 26 overall. Here are the last seven players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2010: DT Dan Williams (Cardinals)

2009: LB Clay Matthews Jr. (Packers)

2008: OT Duane Brown (Texans)

2007: LB Anthony Spencer (Cowboys)

2006: DT John McCargo (Bills)

2005: C Chris Spencer (Seahawks)

2004: RB Chris Perry (Bengals)

Analysis: Picking late in the first round is one of the toughest things to do for any franchise, but the Ravens thrive on it. General manager Ozzie Newsome is one of the best at finding late-round gems. Current Ravens such as Michael Oher, Ben Grubbs, Ed Reed, Todd Heap and Ray Lewis were all taken with picks No. 23 and later. Matthews is the most recent gem at No. 26. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers two years ago and quickly became one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL. But Baltimore also has to be careful. Most of this recent group has failed to live up to expectations.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers' top pick is No. 31 overall. Here are the last seven players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2010: DE Jerry Hughes (Colts)

2009: RB Beanie Wells (Cardinals)

2008: S Kenny Phillips (Giants)

2007: TE Greg Olsen (Bears)

2006: CB Kelly Jennings (Seahawks)

2005: DT Mike Patterson (Eagles)

2004: WR Rashaun Woods (49ers)

Analysis: The Steelers, who have six championships, are in the unfamiliar position of being Super Bowl losers. They will try to use the No. 31 overall pick to fill one of the team's needs. These players are not expected to be superstars. But they are first-round picks and the goal is to become productive starters. Pittsburgh is similar to Baltimore with its ability to find great players late in rounds. Since 2005, Pittsburgh has drafted Rashard Mendenhall, Heath Miller, Ziggy Hood and Santonio Holmes with picks No. 23 and later. The Steelers will aim to continue their late-round success in this draft.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- When it comes to the Hall of Fame, three or more championships is the magic number for NFL quarterbacks.

It paved the road to Canton for Dallas Cowboys great Troy Aikman, whose three Super Bowl wins in the 1990s marked one of the NFL's most recent dynasties.

Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw became legends with four titles. In today's group, quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots is a lock for the Hall of Fame after winning three championships.

Could three rings do the same for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger?

Just seven seasons in, it's officially time to open the Hall of Fame discussion for Pittsburgh's franchise quarterback. At 28, Roethlisberger has a chance to go 3-0 in Super Bowls on Sunday when the Steelers play the Green Bay Packers at Cowboys Stadium.

With the exception of Brady, who is still playing, every starting quarterback who's won at least three Super Bowls has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Although not as conventional a player as Brady, Roethlisberger has a chance to put his name in that elite category Sunday.

ESPN.com's AFC North blog surveyed Hall of Fame voters during Super Bowl week to get a feel for Roethlisberger's candidacy and where it would stand if he leads Pittsburgh to a third championship.

"If you ask me if Roethlisberger deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, I would say without a doubt," said veteran NFL writer John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. "To me, Ben doesn't have to win a third ring. But if Ben wins [Sunday], that's all that matters for a quarterback. I can't imagine there would be any hesitation."

Opinions varied from those who will eventually make the final decision.

"There's too much of a rush to judgment, not only with the Hall of Fame but with the whole world where everything that's the latest becomes the greatest," explained longtime Hall of Fame voter Ira Miller. "But the first question I always ask is, 'Can you write the history of the game without this player?' Then the second thing is, let's put him in perspective among the quarterbacks of his era.

"Is Ben the best quarterback of his era? No. Is he the second best? No. Is he the third? Maybe. He's had a nice career so far. Maybe he will win two more Super Bowls, but we don't know that."

There's no question Roethlisberger will present an interesting case for the Hall of Fame committee when he becomes eligible five years after he retires. He's a quarterback who's put up less-than-gaudy numbers in the high-flying age of fantasy football.

Roethlisberger has never led the NFL in passing yards or touchdowns. He admits he probably will never win an MVP award. But Roethlisberger also has never had a losing season and has been to four AFC title games and three Super Bowls.

Roethlisberger's playoff record is 10-2, which is a higher winning percentage than both Brady (14-5) and Peyton Manning (9-10), who are considered Hall of Fame locks from today's group of quarterbacks.

In fact, the trio's dominance has been astounding. In the past eight Super Bowls, the AFC has been represented by either Brady, Manning or Roethlisberger. No one else has had a chance to even compete in the big game. In contrast, the NFC has been represented by eight teams and eight different quarterbacks over the same span (Brad Johnson, Jake Delhomme, Donovan McNabb, Matt Hasselbeck, Rex Grossman, Eli Manning, Kurt Warner and Drew Brees).

"It drives [Steelers] Coach [Mike] Tomlin crazy, because he wants me to put myself in that category," Roethlisberger said of joining Brady and Peyton Manning. "But, I don't know, I guess I like being the hunter, not the hunted."

The biggest case against Roethlisberger's Hall of Fame candidacy appears to be longevity. Seven seasons present an unfinished résumé.

"When I'm looking at Hall of Fame guys, I'm looking at whether he's one of the best at his position over an extended period of time and does he have longevity," said former receiver James Lofton, who played 16 seasons and was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2003. "It's obviously a great start, but Ben has a lot of football left to play. I think he could play a minimum of 12 years."

Although there are exceptions -- such as Gale Sayers, Dwight Stephenson and Doak Walker -- most enshrinees have had long careers that spanned at least a decade. But Roethlisberger is winning big right away, which has prompted this early discussion.

"If Roethlisberger gets his third ring, he's on pace, just like in the case of Troy Aikman," Hall of Fame voter and ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton said. "He's obviously a difference-maker. At the same time, he's not there yet. He's still 28 and longevity is very important."

Roethlisberger's recent off-the-field issues bring up another interesting debate. He has been accused of sexual assault twice in the past two years, and although never convicted of a crime, Roethlisberger was suspended four games this season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Several voters brought up the case of former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who has repeatedly run into legal issues but was a first-ballot Hall of Famer as one of the greatest linebackers of all time.

"Remember, our bylaws say only what happens on the field counts," McClain said.

But voters on the committee are human, after all, and it may weigh in the back of some people's minds.

"The Roethlisberger situation is a bit tricky," said Hall of Fame voter Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Yes, he could have three rings, but he wasn't great in Super Bowl XL. (Roethlisberger was 9-for-21 for 123 yards and threw two picks.) And even though the off-field stuff is not supposed to enter into the conversation, it definitely is going to be the white elephant in the room."

Roethlisberger chose to wear jersey No. 7 because one of his favorite players growing up was Denver Broncos Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. It's fitting because Elway, in many ways, was Roethlisberger before Roethlisberger.

Elway never had the prettiest or most conventional style of quarterbacking. In terms of numbers, his career passer rating was a modest 79.9. But Elway was one of the most clutch players ever and managed to win two Super Bowls and five AFC title games.

Although his book is unfinished, Roethlisberger is building a similar case for the Hall of Fame and can add another storied chapter Sunday against Green Bay.

"I think Ben Roethlisberger is well on his way to having a Hall of Fame career. If he plays a leading role in winning this Super Bowl, he's that much closer," said Hall of Fame voter and ESPN.com NFC West blogger Mike Sando. "But I think the legacy is still pending and there's a reason we wait. There's a reason we don’t vote players in right after they retire, let alone while they're still playing. I think this will be best judged when he's finished playing and we've had five years to figure it out.

"So far, though, so good."